Welcome to the 31st edition of The Corsham Referee monthly International Referees' newsletter. I hope that all of you have a prosperous New Year, and continue to enjoy your role in the world of refereeing. Please let me have any contributions for the newsletter, as readers are always interested in hearing about Refereeing from around the world. Please let me know if you have any difficulties in receiving or reading the newsletter; and let me have any suggestions on how it can be improved. It is issued free by email in both html (web page format), and plain text format. Previous issues (and printable pdf versions) can be seen by using the 'Previous Newsletters' link on the home page of my http://www.corshamref.org.uk web site. This newsletter is issued approximately on the 1st day of each calendar month.

REFEREEING TODAY MAGAZINE - A MUST FOR ALL REFEREES
For those of you who are interested in subscribing to the best ever Referee magazine, why not subscribe to the Referees' Association (RA) glossy magazine 'Refereeing Today' which is issued 4 times each football season. 
Refereeing Today contains a blend of professional and grassroots materiel that will be of interest to referees at all levels.
The forthcoming February 2006 issue has a theme of the 'Assistant Referee' and includes a number of pen-pictures of FIFA Assistant referees from all around the world; Romania, USA, Australia, Wales, Northern Ireland and several from England. Along with the regular features, there are also lots of other articles that will be of interest to referees of all levels, such as Assistant Referee tips, a Pro/Con discussion on Club Linesman, the third instalment of Referee Tips, a 'Letters' page, a history on Shinguards, a Law Forum and much more. 
The April 2006 edition of the magazine will have a theme of 'The Enjoyment of Refereeing', and will contain a blend of humour and job-satisfaction. A further Referees' Association Conference edition is planned for release mid-May 2006, and the theme of this final edition for the current football season here in England, will be 'The World Cup'. 

Keep up the good Refereeing work wherever you are in the world; and have a peaceful New Year. Editor Julian Carosi.

GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY NOT ALL IT MAKES OUT TO BE!
George Cumming writes about the latest IFAB experiment:

The 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championships in Peru, were used to test a new piece of equipment invented by adidas, Cairos and the Fraunhofer-Institut in Germany to indicate to the referee whether or not the ball has crossed the goal line for a goal and whether the ball has gone out of play at the touchline. The results seem to have been less than the outstanding success hoped for and must raise questions whether such unproven technology can be introduced for the FIFA World Cup in 2006, although it will be tested again, with some modifications, at the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan in December 2005. 
(Note from Julian Carosi - further tests have been cancelled and the technology will not be used on the World Cup 2006).
There seem to be a number of problems. Firstly there is a delay of 2-3 seconds before the signal that a ball has crossed the goal line is relayed to the referee. This would be an unacceptable delay in a match situation. Also the accuracy of the equipment must be 100%. There appear to have been cases where, in pre-tournament demonstrations, the signal has shown that the ball has crossed the line when in fact it is only lying on the line. 
Another problem which has emerged is the situation when a ball goes over the crossbar and rests on the top of the goal net. The equipment has wrongly registered this as a goal. 
Finally, and perhaps most significantly, there is a problem when there are two balls on the field, one perhaps thrown on too quickly by a ball boy. The equipment apparently crashes for up to 30 seconds and no signal is received by the referee. 
There still seem to be problems with the use of goal line technology. Many firms and individuals have attempted to find a solution over the past 10 years but none has been found to be suitable. There would be considerable cost involved in installing the equipment and maintaining it and perhaps it would be needed only once a season, or not at all. 
Maybe we should just accept that referees and their assistants get most of the goal line decisions correct and if a wrong decision is made it should be accepted as part of the game. A human error made in a game which is full of other errors by players and coaches as well. 

Statement on Smartball Technology (from www.fifa.com)

adidas confirms that the so-called smartball technology that uses the ball as an information carrier will not debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. It was also not tested at the FIFA Club World Championship™ in Tokyo in December. adidas started its production of footballs in 1963 and is responsible for some of the most notable innovations in this area. The legendary Telstar ball design, the ball configuration consisting of 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons, the use of synthetic materials in footballs, the launch of colored footballs and the recent introduction of the Thermal Bonding technology are only a few of the most well-known examples.
adidas has supplied the Official Match Balls to all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970 and will also be the Official Partner and Supplier of the Match Ball for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup™.
Cairos Technologies AG
Cairos Technologies AG is privately owned and is the leader in the sector of highly accurate, high-resolution 3-D localization of dynamic objects. Cairos came up with the initial idea of tracking an object on the pitch in order to support the referee in his decision. It was founded in June 2000. In 2001 Cairos started its cooperation with the Fraunhofer IIS in Erlangen and in 2004 they welcomed adidas-Salomon AG as the third cooperation partner in the Cairos System Project.
The Cairos System is developed and optimized for situations in which fast moving objects must be located exactly and securely with very small transmitters. The system is independent of weather influences and can not be distracted by other wireless systems.
The principles used in the system can also be applied in different situations: sport applications such as American football, soccer, basketball or ice hockey, but the system can also perform in an industrial environment such as the security of airports and flight gates, in large docks, in military operations and in many more situations. Cairos AG is the exclusive worldwide distributor for the Cairos system in sports and in the industry.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A GAME

The crux of the matter, is that football is more than a game and, above all, much more than an opportunity to make money and stockpile prestige. Football means emotion, football signifies hope. It is invariably the goals and victories, points and bonuses that hit the headlines. But it is, in fact, the feelgood factor and the changes that our sport can induce in society as a whole that really count.
(FIFA Magazine Jan 2006 Quote from Sepp Blatter)

WAYNE ROONEY

It is hard to reconcile his recent demeanour with the snarling, spitting, hoodie-in-search-of-an-Asbo figure he cut for England against Northern Ireland back in the autumn. Remember Steve McClaren standing on the Windsor Park touchline imploring him to smile? Right now he cannot stop grinning, managing even, in his team's (Manchester United) Carling Cup tie with Birmingham, to exchange smiled pleasantries with the referee.
(24 Dec 2005 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ 

TECHNOLOGICAL AIDS

Fulham manager Chris Coleman and Charlton manager Alan Curbishley have added their voices to renewed calls for technology to aid match officials. Coleman, whose team lost 3-2 away to champions Chelsea on Boxing Day, said that "referees need help", in the wake of two debatable penalties, one for each team, which were not given at Stamford Bridge. He added: "They need video evidence because the game is played at such a pace. It's nuts that referees do not get more help to clear things up. A lot of people think we would be opening up a can of worms but we wouldn't. There would be a happy medium we could strike." Curbishley agrees with him.
A powerful opponent of such technology is FIFA president Sepp Blatter. "I am very conservative when it comes to the laws of the game," he said. "I would say we shall live with errors, not only the errors of players and coaches but we shall also live with the errors of referees. So let the game be as it is."
The problem with the pro-technology argument is that it is unworkable. Where would any technology equipment be located? And would the clubs or the Premier League pay for it? Presumably in the technical area as the referee is the sole arbiter and law five states "the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final".
There could be no fourth or even fifth official making a ruling about penalties or the ferocity of a tackle and the referee could hardly be expected to run up into a stand. Television monitors must be protected from the weather and technical areas are exposed to the elements, which would probably contravene electrical safety regulations. Presumably there would be a technician (as they have in the National Football League) specifically in charge of action replays, although who pays for him/her is another point of debate.

(28 Dec 2005 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) 

THE SNOWMAN.

An under-employed goalkeeper who played for a strong Bishop Auckland side, was not always in action.
If his team were winning easily, and they often were, he would throw the ball to the opposition or sit on the crossbar.
When they were winning 12-0 against Kingstonian in an Amateur Cup tie, he stood by his post and allowed the opposition to score three consolation goals.
But he was cautioned by the referee while his team were hammering Shildon in a Northern League game on a wintry day.
He had built a snowman on his penalty spot!
(York Society Newsletter)

COLLINA TOPS REFEREE POLL AGAIN 

In a poll for the World Soccer Referee of the Year, Pierluigi Collina again came out on top although he retired earlier this year. The first nine places in the poll went to UEFA referees with Brian Hall of the USA taking 10th place.

The full results are:
1 Pierluigi Collina (Italy) 30.6%
2 Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark) 19.7%
3 Markus Merk (Germany) 16.3%
4 Anders Frisk (Sweden) 10.2%
5 Lubos Michel (Slovakia) 6.1%
6 Terje Hauge (Norway) 3.4%
7 Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain) 2.7%
8 Graham Poll (England) 2.0%
9 Rob Styles (England) 1.3%
10 Brian Hall (United States) 0.6%

UNIQUE CLINIC FOR US REFEREES 

U.S. Soccer is making a unique offer to all referees for the upcoming USA vs. Norway game at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, on Sunday, January 29. U.S. Soccer has invited all referees to watch the game together with several accomplished members of the U.S. Soccer Referee Department and National Instructor staff, including Alfred Kleinaitis, Esse Baharmast, Paul Tamberino, Angelo Bratsis, Sandy Hunt and Julie Ilacqua. The game will be followed by a match analysis from the referee point of view by Alfred Kleinaitis and Esse Baharmast. USSF looks to provide the U.S. Soccer referee community with top-notch learning experiences and hopes that referees will take advantage of this special opportunity.

ONCE BITTEN!

During May in the Netherlands, during an Eredivisie game between FC Utrecht and FC Den Bosch was suspended after a linesman was attacked by a dog. Assistant referee Roger Geutjes was sprinting up the touchline when he suddenly felt something heavy hanging from his thigh. He soon discovered, from the huge tears in his shorts, that he had been savaged by a police dog. 
"The dog and his handler had come and sat behind me," said Geutjes. "I asked them to go and sit a bit further away, but I guess the police officer had not heard me. The first time I started to sprint the animal went straight for my trousers." 
Referee Henk Temmink stopped the game to allow Geutjes to receive treatment, and when the official had recovered, the match began again with the offending dog and his handler banished to the corner of the field. Such was their embarrassment that they did not even dare to intervene when a fan of relegated Den Bosch invaded the pitch. 

PLEASE, YOU GO FIRST.....

In May in Belarus as the game between FC Torpedo Zhodino and FC Lokomotiv Minsk was delayed by seven minutes, both teams refused to walk out on to the pitch first, due to the old superstition that it is the first team to take the field which loses.  Both teams stayed in their dressing rooms, trying the patience of the crowd and referee Valeri Yazevich, until Lokomotiv president Anatoli Yurevich came down from the directors' box to order his team to come out from their hiding place and start the match. 
"We have a tradition, we always come out of the locker rooms after our opponents," pleaded Torpedo captain Denis Karolik. "Somebody at Lokomotiv obviously knew about that and they wanted to play a mean trick on us. But it went our way in the end." 
Sure enough, Torpedo emerged as 3-1 winners.

KAISERSLAUTERN PENALTY APPEAL REJECTED BY DFB 

The German Football Association (DFB) has turned down an appeal by Kaiserslautern against their 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday. The Red Devils had a spot-kick disallowed and were eventually knocked out of the cup's third round by Mainz, with referee Michael Werner adjudging Ferydoon Zandi's penalty had not crossed the line. Had the kick been allowed, the home side would have led 3-0 as Mainz had missed their first two penalties. Kaiserslautern claimed television footage had shown Zandi's penalty to have crossed the line, but the DFB have dismissed their argument and the subsequent appeal for the tie to be replayed. Judge Dr. Rainer Koch said: "The referee has the task of making decisions over matters of fact during the game. These decisions are final and cannot be overturned."

GERMAN BRIBES SCANDAL ROLLS ON 

A player has been banned for eight months after being implicated in the match-fixing scandal which has rocked the game in Germany. Steffen Karl, 35, was handed the punishment by the German Football Federation (DFB), having already been given a nine-month suspended prison sentence for his role in the affair. The player, who plays for regional side VfB Chemnitz, was the sixth and last individual to be dealt with. He had earlier admitted meeting Ante Sapina, head of a Croatian mafia betting ring in Berlin, in a hotel and accepting an 8000 euro ($12,931) bribe to play below his best in Chemnitz's 4-0 league defeat by SC Paderborn in May 2004.

Sapina was one of three Croatian brothers reported to have made two million euro ($3.23 million) from betting on "fixed" games and Ante, the main orchestrator of the match-fixing operation, was recently sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison. Milan and Filip Sapina received suspended jail sentences of 16 months and one year respectively.
Disgraced referee Robert Hoyzer started the scandal back in January when he admitted to accepting bribes to fix four matches for the Croatia betting ring. Hoyzer, 26, was jailed for two years and five months while another former referee Dominik Marks - implicated by Hoyzer - was handed a suspended 18 month sentence for his part in rigging matches. 
Marks was also arrested this week on suspicion of rigging three more matches towards the end of last year.

NEW FIFA REFEREE FROM NIGERIA'S RIVERS STATE 

The Referees Council of Rivers State in Nigeria has announced that a local referee has been appointed to the FIFA List of International Referees for the first time in many years. Wokoma Solomon Innocent of Rivers State, who hails from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area has been confirmed on the List for 2006. The young and hardworking referee is poised to be included into the elite group of world refereeing. Wokoma is the only new addition to the list of FIFA graded referees in Nigeria after the dropping of Emmanuel Onah from Enugu State Referees Council. 
Six of the seven for the coming year were retained by the world football governing body for another term. The retained FIFA referees include, Calistus Chukwujekwu, Dr. Alex Mana, Engr. Emmanuel Imiere, Salauwa, Odeniran and Amos Aigbe. Seven assistant referees from Nigeria were also confirmed by FIFA.

SEVEN CHARGED WITH BOTSWANA REFEREE ASSAULT 

Seven people were charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to the referee at the end of the Lobtrans Gunners and Boteti Young Fighters Coca Cola Cup game, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Phandu Skelemani, said when answering a question from Botswana MP Botsalo Ntuane in Parliament last week. Ntuane had asked the minister what action the police had taken against the hooligans that were shown on national television assaulting a referee at the end of Coca Cola Cup game between Lobtrans Gunners and Boteti Young Fighters which was played in Orapa in August, this year. Skelemani said unfortunately, the eighth suspect was still at large, adding that the seven accused persons had already appeared before the Magistrate Court in Letlhakane and the case was due to be dealt with before the same court on January 5, 2006.

HAGI FOUND GUILTY OF REFEREE ASSAULT

Former Galatasaray midfielder and coach Gheorghe Hagi was found guilty of assaulting Turkish referee Erol Ersoy four years ago. Sisli Criminal Court in Istanbul decided that former Romanian international offended Ersoy, considered to be a public employee, during a match and sentenced Hagi to 17 months in prison. The court later converted the prison term to a fee of 2,857 YTL (2,108 USD) and suspended the punishment. Hagi was charged with assaulting Erol Ersoy in a Turkish Division One match in March 2001 in Istanbul between his team Galatasaray and Genclerbirligi. Hagi reacted violently when he was sent off by Ersoy's red card in the game. 

FRISK GETS FIFA AWARD 

Swedish legend Anders Frisk has been awarded the FIFA President's award in what Sepp Blatter has termed an unprecedented 'message of support for referees'. Frisk retired from the game after receiving several death threats following the Champions League quarter-final first-leg match between Barcelona and Chelsea last season after he sent off top Blues striker Didier Drogba. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho stoked the fires by saying he had seen his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard go into Frisk's dressing room at half-time, something strongly denied by both men. 
Blatter said: "Aside from paying homage to Anders Frisk, who was one of the greatest referees, this award sends a powerful message of support to his fellow referees who are still working.
"It is an appeal for respect and discipline."
Blatter also used the award to reiterate his opposition to resorting to video replays over contentious decisions, and which many players and federations have asked to be brought in.
He said: "To take such powers away from a referee and resort to videos like certain people are proposing would dehumanise football.
"It would be suicidal." 
Frisk's retirement drew widespread disbelief in the European football community and Uefa slapped Mourinho with a US$25,000 fine and two-match touchline ban for the 'false comments'.
Frisk refereed 132 international matches and appeared at three European Championship Finals (1996, 2000, 2004) and one World Cup Finals (2002).

JEWELLERY - TAKE IT ALL OFF!

Perth Glory striker Damien Mori recently agreed to have his wedding ring cut off his finger after he had not been allowed to take the field in an Australian A-League game the day before. In accordance with A-League Rules, Mori was told to remove the ring by FIFA referee Mark Shield prior to kick-off for his side's match against Melbourne . The 35-year-old was unable to do so, even drawing blood as he and English coach Steve McMahon attempted to remove it whilst being filmed by the TV company covering the match. Mori had not been able to remove his wedding ring ever since his finger was fractured and the swelling at the joint made it impossible to be removed. Perth began the match with 10 men before Mori was replaced by former England international, Brian Deane , in the fifth minute. Deane scored his first goal for the club in Perth 's 2-1 victory.

LONG SHORTS ARE OK

Asian clubs in a football league based in Preston have been given permission by The FA to make their own decisions about the length of shorts worn by their players.

Eamonn McNamara, Chairman of The Lancashire Evening Post Sunday Football League, has taken a close interest in the progress of Canaries Football Club, who have enjoyed a rapid rise to the very top level.

“They only entered the league about five years ago,” he says, “and are now playing in our Premier League. The bulk of their players are Asians, and – particularly as we have always wanted the league to be inclusive - we have been delighted to see how well they have progressed. As a league we are extremely keen on making sure that our players are turned out in proper kit, but an issue was raised recently about the length of shorts that some of the Canaries team were wearing. “The Muslim faith states that legs should not be shown in public, so some of the players were wearing shorts that were slightly longer than normal, and gave the impression of somebody wearing long trousers. One or two referees drew my attention to the matter and I decided to contact The FA for advice,” he adds. 

Lucy Faulkner, The FA’s Ethics and Sports Equity Manager, has been able to give Canaries – and another new team in the league made up predominantly of Asians, Fishwick Rangers – the thumbs up.

“I know that Eamonn has met up with the local Imam to discuss the wearing of longer shorts as a modesty issue, and I don’t think there will be any problems. We had a chat with our refereeing department, and the outcome was that as long as the shorts meet the requirements of the laws of the game – and that there is no safety issue – then they will be alright. The FA is already committed to supporting racial equality as this underpins all our policies and thinking, and is a key factor in our strategic planning.”

Eamonn says that the clubs concerned are more than satisfied with the guidance. “I would be most unhappy if they were forced to do something against their religion or something they didn’t want to do. However, I know that Canaries have ordered some kit which gives players the option of which length of shorts to wear. I think that The FA has been very forward thinking on this subject, and the guidelines they have given us will benefit football in Preston way into the future.”

Canaries Secretary Junaid Kalang, is delighted by the flexibility available. “The point is really a moral issue. As we are predominantly a team whose players are of Asian origin, we have got to be sure that everybody is happy with the ruling.

“We are more than satisfied to abide by the rules and don’t want to compromise the league in any way at all. In fact, the league have bent over backwards to offer us assistance and when we’ve explained the situation about the need for slightly longer shorts to referees, they have been quite happy as well.”
(www.TheFA.com)

REFEREES' CHIEF KEITH HACKETT HAS SAID THAT ROBIN VAN PERSIE'S DISALLOWED EFFORT IN ARSENAL'S 2-0 DEFEAT BY CHELSEA SHOULD HAVE STOOD AS A GOAL.

Referees' Chief Keith Hackett revealed that Arsenal were so incensed by decisions during the game that they rang him for an explanation. He told BBC Five Live: "Arsenal wanted to know if I had instructed officials to change their style of refereeing."
Referee Rob Styles disallowed a Robin van Persie goal as Thierry Henry was offside - although he was not 'active'.
And Hackett added: "When you examine the video many times you can see Henry is not active."
Hackett, who is head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, added: "I think they were concerned about one or two liberal aspects of the game.
"But for the offside decision I was able to confirm this was not a correct decision by the assistant referee.
"Clearly we have a difficult law and interpretations of accuracy on this occasion; in a fraction of a second the assistant referee puts up his flag in the belief Henry becomes active from a passive position."
Hackett refused to blame Styles for the decision and also would not be drawn on comments from Arsene Wenger - after he appeared to question the impartiality of the officials.
"Rob Styles is a senior referee, a very competent official," said Hackett.
"We take on board the criticisms but, in that situation, the assistant got a very much better view and Rob is not going to wave the flag down.
"In the situation immediately after the match some managers cannot bite their lip.
"The challenge for me is to improve the standard of refereeing and we are doing that week in, week out.
"There are some positive comments from managers - and they come from Arsenal and, on a fairly regular basis, from Chelsea." 
(20 December)

PROFESSIONAL REFEREEING

At a meeting chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter in Leipzig recently, the FIFA Executive Committee resolved to press ahead with professional refereeing and noted that a working group of the Referees Committee had started work on this project. Furthermore, the committee approved the new regulations regarding nominations for the FIFA List of International Referees, Assistant Referees and Futsal Referees. The 2006 edition will comprise 884 match officials. The allocations per confederation are as follows: AFC 191, CAF 233, CONCACAF 93, CONMEBOL 74, OFC 25 and UEFA 268.

WORLD CUP 2006 REFEREES TO CRACK DOWN ON ELBOWING, BLATTER SAYS 

FIFA the wold's governing body, typically uses the World Cup to showcase a rule change or a crackdown on an aspect of play, such as diving at the 2002 event in South Korea and Japan.
Blatter, 69, said players swinging elbows while challenging for a header or during a tackle had become an increasing menace. Officials will be urged to dismiss offenders.
"Punishing is always at the discretion of the referee but we should insist that when he realizes it is elbowing then it is a direct red card,'' Blatter said in an interview in Tokyo.
"Elbowing is a 'new approach to fight for the ball'' and is particularly dangerous because players on the receiving end aren't prepared for it", Blatter said. "Coaches and players will be warned before the June 9-July 9 tournament", he said.
World Cup referees will continue targeting players who tackle from behind or the side without going for the ball, he said. Other FIFA drives were working, such as eradicating diving and players celebrating by removing their shirts, Blatter added.
"Diving has practically disappeared,'' he said. "Stripping shirts still (happens) a little bit, but a yellow card and I'm sure we will bring it away.''
Wales winger Ryan Giggs missed the first match of 2006 World Cup qualifying as part of a ban for elbowing a Russian opponent in a playoff for a Euro 2004 place. Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert was banned for two matches at the 1998 World Cup for using an elbow against a Belgian player.
(18 December)

ON THE BALL: REFEREE EDDIE KALINOWSKI WHO IS STILL TAKING CONTROL OF THREE FOOTBALL MATCHES A WEEK, AS WELL AS GOING FOR LONG WALKS WITH HIS WIFE IN THE DALES 

You can’t blow the whistle on Eddie, aged 79

Football mad Eddie Kalinowski has no plans to hang up his referee’s whistle – despite approaching his 80th birthday. The sprightly pensioner still takes charge of up to three games a week in his 47th season as a man in black. And even having part of one of his lungs removed due to cancer failed to stop him being involved in the sport he loves. To mark his astonishing achievement, Mr Kalinowski, of Wibsey, was yesterday presented with a Bradford Council bactive award in recognition of his inspiration to others in staying fit and healthy Steve Warner, head of the Council’s sport and leisure service. who presented the award, said: “ To be so active and still refereeing at 79 is marvellous particularly when so many referees are leaving the game at a much younger age and giving football authorities cause for concern,” said .
"Eddie is an inspiration to people of all ages. He truly deserves a bactive award in recognition of his outstanding achievements and his example hopefully will, I’m sure encourage others to be more physically active whatever their age.”
Mr Kalinowski referees at least two games a week often with a mid week game squeezed in. And on top of that he goes on 15 mile walks each week around the Yorkshire Dales with his wife.
“ I am a glutton for punishment,” he said. “I do it purely for the love of the game. I have played football and feel it is a way of putting something back into the game. I say to the players the day I can’t catch up to you I’ll give up.”
In his younger days Mr Kalinowski played as halfback for Wibsey Celtic, Thackley and Europa. He said he became a referee because he thought he could do a better job.
“You always think that you’re better than the referee and to a certain degree we are all referees whenever we watch a game.”
Mr Kalinowski has also battled with lung cancer and had to have 40 per cent of one of his lungs removed.
“ When I had part of my lung removed nine years ago due to cancer, I thought I would never take to the field again. But with a programme of fell walking and swimming the fitness returned and when the doctor said I could get back on the pitch I was refereeing again within four months.”
In addition to his busy schedule of sport, Mr Kalinowski also finds time to work three days a week as a Father Christmas at Tong Garden Centre.
“ Every year I say this is the last time but then they ring me up in October and say don’t let us down so I think ‘ why not’.”
Bradford Council’s active campaign was started in 2003 to encourage people across the district to be more physically active.
(13 December)

FOOTBALL FOR PIGS!

In June 1990 around the time of the World Cup Finals, something was stirring at the grassroots of football; more and more pigs were taking up the game. The Paris Agricultural Show earlier in the year, featured a Danish product called the Domino Stress Ball, which enabled pigs to play football. Bernard Hoggarth purchased a number of these for his pig business at Cranswick Mill, near Driffield in Yorkshire, and, after successful trials, began marketing the Stress Balls in Britain. The manufacturer claimed that football-playing pigs are less aggressive and less stressed and therefore happier and more likely to put on weight. You may have heard the same argument applied to human footballers.
"Any manager of a soccer team of pigs would be especially vulnerable to the chop."
There were suggestions that Franz Baconbauer should manage an international team of pigs, and an English Premier Cut League should include Trotterham Hotspur, Queen's Pork Rangers and Roast Ham United. But any manager of a soccer team of pigs would be especially vulnerable to the chop.
It would appeal to those football-club groundsmen who claim they've seen dressing-rooms looking like a pigsty. Pigs (much like players!) are intelligent creatures; when bored, they can become aggressive, and bite the tails or ears of other pigs in the pen, hence the need to amuse them. 'They roll it around the sty, shoot it into corners and leap over it on their way to their fodder,' says the promotion literature. In practice, pigs rely more on dribbling with their snouts than kicking the ball. Perhaps we will eventually see pigs playing team games, and spectators guaranteed lots of excitement around the muddy pen areas.
Stress Balls have also been supplied to breeding stables for racehorses to play with, but a well-hoofed shot could cause damage if it hits a passing spectator. Chickens had yet to be approached: the manufacturers were worried about too many fouls!
(Source: Football's Strangest Matches by Andrew Ward 2004)

13th UEFA ADVANCED COURSE FOR ELITE AND PREMIER REFEREES AND 14th UEFA INTRODUCTORY COURSE FOR INTERNATIONAL REFEREES 2005

ADVICE:

Incidents involving players’ reactions/confrontations:

There was clearly a benefit in going quickly to the point of conflict and being seen to take immediate disciplinary action (yellow card, red card as appropriate). It was noted that when a referee did not go quickly to the location of the incident, reactions and retaliations often followed and the problem escalated.
If it was not possible to immediately prevent further increase in conflict between players, the referee should observe what happens in detail and avoid personal physical intervention in separating fighting players.
It was recognised that it was essential that referees should not only punish retaliators but also must identify and punish the initial offender(s) where the offence warranted it (recklessness: brutality).

As earlier agreed in pre-match discussions, one assistant should monitor and record events and the other assistant should remain close to the referee.
It was agreed that all players who became involved in such incidents should be punished appropriately. Cautions (yellow cards) were not considered sufficient punishment where fighting (excessive physical contact etc) was involved. Particular note should be taken of players who approached the initial incident from some distance to become involved.

Applying Advantage:

The referees studied some examples of the non-appropriate use of Advantage. For incidents involving recklessness or serious foul play, it was agreed that only very rarely (e.g. a probable immediate goal scoring opportunity) was the use of advantage appropriate. The greater benefit to the game is achieved from an immediate halt in play and the punishment of the
offender.

Management at free kicks:

After discussions concerning the best method of controlling free kicks it was agreed that the following procedure would be of benefit.
1. Once any disciplinary measures have been dealt with, ensure that the ball is positioned where the offence occurred.
2. If the attacking team have decided not to immediately have a quick free kick, then clearly advise them that they must wait for a signal.
3. The referee should first manage any defending players directly in front of the ball, cautioning those who do not withdraw quickly.
4. Manage the wall by measuring the 9.15m distance (not through the wall but to the side) while simultaneously controlling the position of the ball.
5. Take up a correct position, (controlling the ball, wall and being able to see the assistant referee)
6. Signal to take the free kick. If the defenders advance from the wall before the kick is taken, have the free kick retaken if a goal is not scored and caution offending player(s).
7. Control that the ball is in the correct position again and follow the same procedure.

Dangerous play with contact:

Referees were reminded that if a player plays in a dangerous manner but also makes contact with an opponent, the referee should punish the more serious offence, i.e. the contact is to be considered as one of the offences for which a direct free kick is awarded (a careless or reckless kick).

Cooperation with Players:

Referees should always offer maximum protection to players and be attentive towards creative players who are often systematically fouled. Referees should be prepared to react with yellow cards (or red if necessary).

Referees and players were unanimous in calling for action to stop simulation. The players acknowledged that this is a difficult aspect for referees. However, when there is blatant simulation it was suggested that video evidence could be used to open a disciplinary case and punish players who cheat and damage the image of the game.

This should also apply in cases where a player scores a goal unfairly with the deliberate use of the hand.

Players and referees agreed that holding and shirt pulling in the penalty area when set-plays (free-kicks and corner kicks) are being taken should be eliminated. However, this requires a concerted effort by everybody within the game – players, coaches, public and media – if it is to succeed.

The players expressed a view that, in cases of fouls in the penalty area, which denied obvious goal scoring opportunities, the punishment – penalty kick and red card – seems excessive, as the penalty kick restores a goal scoring opportunity. This would entail a change to the Laws of the Game, allowing the referee to punish such cases with a penalty and a yellow card only. The referees considered this proposal with interest.

THIS MONTH'S 3 TOPICS:

This month, we look at: (1) how to inspect a field of play that is covered in frost or ice; and (2) the 10 most common complaints of Assistant Referees, and (3) the effect of a burst balas it hit the crossbar.

(1) FROSTY PITCH INSPECTIONS:
(By Julian Carosi)

There is no scientific measure that can be used to deem a frosty ice covered field to be safe.
Nevertheless, any experienced Referee will take the following into consideration before making a decision.

• It is the Referee's responsibility to make the decision and nobody else's.
• The whole of the field of play surface MUST be safe. There is a great danger that if 99 percent of the field of play surface is OK, and the game is allowed to be played, players will assume that 100 percent is OK, and play normally, and not compensate for any hard surface areas. In other words, playing on a hard field of play, which is partially 99% OK, is just as dangerous (if not more so) than on a field of play, which is totally hard. Neither game should be played. 
• The Referee should not be influenced by the teams' opinion. If an accident happens, it is the Referee who cops it.
• The teams will deny any responsibility! Therefore, when a field of play inspection is carried out, the Referee should not do so in company of team managers or Club Officials, as they will try to influence the Referee's decision.
• When the weather is doubtful, the Referee should aim to arrive at the ground as early as he can to make an inspection. This may allow time for travelling teams to be warned of a cancellation.
• When the weather is doubtful, a check on the local weather forecast can help. For example, although a field of play may be frozen in the early hours of the morning, a prediction of sunshine, will give the Referee a good idea of the possibility that the field may become playable later in the day. If the forecast is for snow or frost or freezing temperatures, then the chances are, that the game will not proceed.
• At lower level football, it can be useful for a local Referee to be contacted, to make an early inspection on behalf of the match Referee who lives some distance away from the ground. This can prevent unnecessary travelling. 
  When completing the field of play inspection, a good indicator of the suitability of the surface, can be ascertained by inspecting the goalmouth areas and the centre circle area first. These are the areas that get more use, and are more likely to be rutted and hard due to frost.
• When completing the field of play inspection, other areas for close inspection, are places covered in shadow from buildings or trees. They are more likely to be frost bound, rather than those areas basked in sunshine.
• When completing the field of play inspection, if it is not immediately clear that the game cannot be played (i.e. the goalmouth areas are completely solid with frost and the game is definitely cancelled), the whole of the field of play surface MUST must be inspected to eliminate any hidden areas of danger.
• A referee, who is seen to be completing a thorough field of play inspection, will have greater credibility when he decides to call off the game, than a Referee who only spends a few minutes making his inspection.
• The position of the sun and its path as the game progresses must also be taken into consideration. For example, if a field of play is 'just about playable', but the path of the sun means that its rays will disappear behind the trees or over the horizon, then the field of play surface on a cold frosty day, will get worse, not better.
• At local level, if it is clear, that waiting an extra 30 minutes or possibly up to an hour, will allow the sun to melt the frost, then play could be delayed with the agreement of both teams. But this depends very much on the weather forecast, the time of day and the team's agreement. Generally, it is better to make a decision quickly, based on the surface suitability at the time of the scheduled kick-off.
• The referee should wear a set of studded boots when inspecting the field of play, as this will give the best indication of the suitability of the playing surface.
• A surface which does not yield any purchase to studded boots, is dangerous, and the game should not be sanctioned. This includes, any part of the surface that does not yield, no matter how small an area.
• A field of play with hard deep frosted ruts and divots (a legacy of a muddy game played the day before) is less likely to be playable than a completely flat field with only crusty surface-frost to contend with.
• When the Referee has made his decision, it should be communicated to the teams as soon as possible. When a Referee is communicating his decision to the teams, that in his opinion, the field of play is not safe, the decision should be made confidently. If teams suspect any doubt in the Referee's decision, they will try and persuade the Referee to change his mind. In short, when a Referee makes his decision, he should not back down, and he should make it abundantly clear that the decision is his to make, and the game will not be played under his authority.
• The inspection of a field of play covered in frost, and whether to sanction a game or not, is not a difficult decision to make for a Referee. It is fairly obvious to identify dangerous area that could potentially cause an injury. Common sense should be used. 
• Young players are more likely to get injured on hard surfaces. Therefore, even greater care must be taken when making a decision to allow the game to be played or not.
• If there is any doubt (no matter how small), then the game must not be played.
  
  

(2) THE TEN MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS OF ASSISTANT REFEREES. 
By George McCaffery Licensed FA Referees' Instructor.

From discussions with referees from all levels the 10 most common complaints about Assistant Referees are shown below:

1. Do not follow specific pre-match instructions - when the referee asks them to do something specific, they fail to do so, either because they have not listened, they do not normally do it, or they have decided that they do not need to do it.

2. Do not concentrate for the entire match, missing the 2 or 3 incidents when they were needed most - normally towards the end of each half, fail to recognise and signal for offences, or decisions directly in their zone of responsibility.

3. Agitate the flag for offside indications - this allows the referee to distinguish between offside and penal/technical offences. By agitating the flag the referee may think the defence has committed a penal offence, (the flag should also be in your goal side hand for offside). An offside flag must NOT be agitated.

4. Often wish they were the referee - prior, during and after the game. Try to control game through their flag signals etc. They should assist and not insist.

5. Often wish they were somewhere else - can lead to a negative approach (i.e. not this league again. I am better than this!).

6. Give outdated or culturally accepted indications and not approved signals - there are a set number of approved signals that are clearly understood by every official. Using other signals can lead to confusion.

7. Seldom ask questions if instructions are unclear or incomplete - referees do make mistakes, and they may forget and omit something during the brief. There is nothing worse than finding after the game, that the AR had noticed an offence/situation, but did not take any action, as they were unsure of what to do. 

8. Are afraid of being 'over-ruled' passive - Did not signal because last week's referee 'waved me down'. Did not want to be responsible etc.

9. Are often distracted - do not take seriously - loses focus of the field of play, because they are distracted by talking to personnel in the Technical Area, spectators or acting as ball boys.

10. Often act as though they were the referees - react to questions from club officials before the game, give incorrect information to club officials. 

I hope they do not apply to you! 

(3) BURST BALL QUESTION: 

Question: An attacker shoots the ball towards goal and the ball bursts as it hits the cross-bar, and crosses the goal line between the goal posts, and a goal is scored. What should the Referee do, and how should the game be restarted ?

Answer: The action to be taken when a ball bursts, is shown in Law 2 (and Law 8), where it says:

If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of the match, the match is stopped. The match is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the place where the first ball became defective (except in the goal area where the dropped ball is taken from that part of the goal area line that runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped).       

Therefore, as far as the Laws are concerned, if the ball bursts as it hits the crossbar, the game should be stopped, and restarted with a dropped ball taken from that part of the goal area line that runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the ball burst on the crossbar.

In 2005, FIFA confused this issue, by including in their Questions and Answers, the following in Law 14-The Penalty Kick:

Q5. When a penalty kick is taken, the ball strikes the goalpost and/or crossbar and bursts. What action does the referee take? 
A5: If the ball enters the goal directly after hitting the goal post or crossbar the goal is allowed. 
If the ball rebounds into play the referee stops play, obtains a replacement ball and restarts play with a dropped ball. * 
If this second situation occurs during additional time, the match ends.

This advice by 2005 FIFA was contrary to that given by them in the same Law 14 question and answer shown in the 2004 edition, whereby a dropped ball was the recommended restart, and the goal disallowed.  

In normal play, when a ball hits the crossbar, it only takes the very smallest of things to deflect the ball away from its normal path. This could mean the difference between a goal being scored or not being scored. A ball bursting as it hits the crossbar, is a major incident that will have a marked effect on the trajectory of a damaged ball. It is therefore, blatantly unfair to allow a goal to count, based on the high probability that a burst ball is much more likely to go forwards, and therefore into (or over) the goal due to its forward momentum, than for the deflated ball to bounce back off the crossbar (which is the more likely scenario with a fully-inflated ball).

Until the Laws are changed, the game must therefore be stopped as soon as the ball bursts (when it hits the cross-bar). The game should be restarted with a dropped ball on the 6 yard line parallel to where the ball burst on the cross bar. The goal does not count. The same principle should be applied when the ball bursts on the crossbar during the taking of a penalty kick.

Let me have your thoughts on this month's topics. Regards Julian Carosi

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue of the newsletter, and that you are all continuing to enjoy your refereeing roles.  All the very warmest wishes to you all, wherever you are in the world.

Regards, Julian Carosi (Newsletter Editor):
Disclaimer: The content of this newsletter is not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The opinions expressed here are sometimes those of the Corsham Referee webmaster and the readers, or from other media sources. Reference to the male gender in this newsletter is for simplification only, and apply to both males and females. All rights of the current Laws mentioned in this newsletter are reserved by FIFA, and they are the official laws of the International Football Association Board.

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